Preview — Heartstone
by C.J. Sansom

Heartstone

Summer, 1545. England is at war. Henry VIII's invasion of France has gone badly wrong. Meanwhile Matthew Shardlake is given an intriguing legal case by an old servant of Queen Catherine Parr. He is asked to investigate claims of 'monstrous wrongs' committed against a young ward of the court, which have already involved one mysterious death.

Such a great book, brilliant storytelling which takes you back into time as if yer actually there with its detailed historical content. A mystery which evolves, splits into multiples parts, intertwines enroute, unravels & reveals many eye-openers as the layers are peeled away...... some grand reveals too as the story comes to it’s conclusion within a great historical chapter retold with Master Shardlake centre stage.

To say any more would reveal little snippets of clues but as always I find mSuch a great book, brilliant storytelling which takes you back into time as if yer actually there with its detailed historical content. A mystery which evolves, splits into multiples parts, intertwines enroute, unravels & reveals many eye-openers as the layers are peeled away...... some grand reveals too as the story comes to it’s conclusion within a great historical chapter retold with Master Shardlake centre stage.

To say any more would reveal little snippets of clues but as always I find myself saying after I read the next episode of Shardlake...... Why do I leave it so long between books!! His best yet for me, top marks here with 5 stars....more

I don't consider myself much of a fangirl. I never joined Team Edward or Team Peeta. Never even swooned at the thought of Mr. Darcy. But you can sign me up for Team Matthew.

In the fifth installment of Sansom's Matthew Shardlake mysteries our unlikely heroes are out to find justice and rescue the downtrodden once again. This time, the backdrop is Portsmouth and surrounding countryside as the French prepare to attack during the summer of 1545. Henry VIII is aging and becoming more irrational regarI don't consider myself much of a fangirl. I never joined Team Edward or Team Peeta. Never even swooned at the thought of Mr. Darcy. But you can sign me up for Team Matthew.

In the fifth installment of Sansom's Matthew Shardlake mysteries our unlikely heroes are out to find justice and rescue the downtrodden once again. This time, the backdrop is Portsmouth and surrounding countryside as the French prepare to attack during the summer of 1545. Henry VIII is aging and becoming more irrational regarding his escapades against the French that achieve nothing other than reducing the population of young men on both sides.

As with the prior novels, there are a multitude of moments when I felt my heartstrings tugged for Matthew, who is always trying to do what is right, even if it may kill him. Thankfully, he has the more street-wise Jack Barak to always watch his back.

Barak's character has evolved and aged, and we see he and Tamasin preparing for the birth of their second child after the loss of their first in Revelation. Though he is settling into married life, Barak still has his fighting spirit that leads him into trouble at times. He and Matthew are the perfect pair.

Sansom never fails to expertly recreate Tudor England, from the London streets to the deck of the Mary Rose. Through Shardlake and Barak's travels in this novel, we visit a priory that has been converted to the residence of a gentleman with new money, small out-of-the-way villages, and the stinking army camps as England prepares for invasion. Each scene is written to enable the reader to perfectly envision the scene and feel as though we know each character personally.

The dual mysteries in Heartstone build slowly and suspensefully, leaving me with several conflicting theories regarding the likely outcome. Each one was wrong. Matthew manages to uncover all sorts of secrets and find new souls for him to attempt to save. He gets so caught up in his need to know truth and seek justice that he gets himself to a point where he wearily admits defeat in a heartbreaking moment.

I have Lamentation on my shelf, and part of me wants to scoop it up right away....but I will wait, because I just don't know what I will do when I have no more Matthew Shardlake stories to read....more

Five stars again for this the fifth book in the Matthew Shardlake series. Each book progresses us a little more through the reign of Henry VIII. By now he is married to Catherine Parr and he is not a well man although he is still pursuing his unfortunate desire to war against the French. There is a great deal of historical fact in this book about the Tudor navy which would normally not interest me but the author handles it deftly and passes the information on in an interesting way. There are twoFive stars again for this the fifth book in the Matthew Shardlake series. Each book progresses us a little more through the reign of Henry VIII. By now he is married to Catherine Parr and he is not a well man although he is still pursuing his unfortunate desire to war against the French. There is a great deal of historical fact in this book about the Tudor navy which would normally not interest me but the author handles it deftly and passes the information on in an interesting way. There are two parallel plot lines, both of which tell interesting stories about the lives of women at that time and the misfortunes which could befall them. It is another huge book - 630 pages - but as usual I had to keep reading with as few pauses as possible to get to the end. Sadly there is only one more book for me to read and then the prospect of a long wait for the next one.:(...more

I sometimes commented on the books of Matthew Shardlake as being a bit slow in story and pace, but this one, I have to say, I really enjoyed from beginning to end, even if it were 730 pages. Great solid story in historic setting on the hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake, in times of Henry VIII.

Another excellent historical mystery from C.J.Samson featuring hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Even though the books seem to be get larger as this series grows, I enjoyed every page of this mystery series set in Tudor England. The year is 1545 and Henry VIII is pursuing his war with the French even though it has emptied his coffers and impoverishing his people with ever increasing crippling taxes. He is now conscripting farmers and workers in their thousands and sending them to Portsmouth toAnother excellent historical mystery from C.J.Samson featuring hunchback lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Even though the books seem to be get larger as this series grows, I enjoyed every page of this mystery series set in Tudor England. The year is 1545 and Henry VIII is pursuing his war with the French even though it has emptied his coffers and impoverishing his people with ever increasing crippling taxes. He is now conscripting farmers and workers in their thousands and sending them to Portsmouth to await the French invasion.Matthew has taken on a case as a favour to the Queen (Catherine Parr) to look into a case involving a ward of the courts and despite the country being on the brink of invasion must travel south to Hampshire to investigate. As always he is accompanied by his faithful clerk Barak whose baby is due any day. The unusual case of Ellen Fettisplace, an inmate of Bedlam is still on his mind as he and Ellen have become friends and he decides to make enquiries in her home village on his way to Hampshire. Both cases are complex and Matthew and Barak are away a lot longer than planned.As always Sansom does a wonderful job in setting the scene, with full immersion in sights and sounds of Tudor England, both in the streets of London, the countryside waiting for invasion and the Kings ships preparing for war in Portsmouth harbour. Matthew must use all his investigative skills as well as his diplomatic skills to avoid being caught up in the corruption and deception of the players in Henry's court. ...more

This could've easily become my favorite in the series if it hadn't been so long, and the last part hadn't been so... Formulaic. But because I have read these back-to-back, I found myself being annoyed by the main character. In the beginning, I loved that he was never more than a man of his time, that he was a bit naive and got so caught up in Cromwell's reforms that he was blind to it's effects. But now, after four books, it was annoying me to see that he had learned absolutely nothing: give himThis could've easily become my favorite in the series if it hadn't been so long, and the last part hadn't been so... Formulaic. But because I have read these back-to-back, I found myself being annoyed by the main character. In the beginning, I loved that he was never more than a man of his time, that he was a bit naive and got so caught up in Cromwell's reforms that he was blind to it's effects. But now, after four books, it was annoying me to see that he had learned absolutely nothing: give him a good sob story, get him to feel sorry for you, and the man is blind to everything, only to be shocked and hurt when (once again) he ends up being taken advantage of and almost killed. Therefore, I found the "big reveal" at the end completely underwhelming. But still, these books are wonderful in terms of historical detail, and make the era come to life really remarkably....more

With a feeble internal whoop of joy, I finally finished this incredibly over-written novel which at least had the virtue of picking up the pace in the last quarter. But my what a slog to get there. Nearly gave up at the 100 page mark after a laborious opening which threatened little and delivered less. I only kept going after seeing that Goodreaders had granted this book the highest rating of all Shardlake novels. I was just about intrigued enough to discover why. I am still wondering why. Why aWith a feeble internal whoop of joy, I finally finished this incredibly over-written novel which at least had the virtue of picking up the pace in the last quarter. But my what a slog to get there. Nearly gave up at the 100 page mark after a laborious opening which threatened little and delivered less. I only kept going after seeing that Goodreaders had granted this book the highest rating of all Shardlake novels. I was just about intrigued enough to discover why. I am still wondering why. Why are readers so seemingly enthralled by such repetitive dialogue, minimal action, little plotting, non-existent suspense and none of the atmosphere that gripped me in Dissolution.

On and on it goes; well established characters like Barak and Guy develop not at all, even Shardlake was more interesting as a crabby, short-tempered at times unpleasant lead. Now he is decidedly soppy.

The twist, when it comes, after what is an age and then some, is good and the story then shifts into at least a moderate gear. That Shardlake is seriously endangered in a particular spot at the wrong time by a particular protaganist was no surprise. I had guessed it would happen at the halfway mark, the perils of a modest knowledge of history I guess. I didn't mind that. The history lesson was interesting and Sansom always gives a good sense of place. And boy doesn't he love telling you how much research he's done.

But my dear boy, the book was at least twice the length it needed to be. There was nary enough story, plot, character development to justify it being so long. I may have to be paid to read another Shardlake and that saddens me. Maybe good old Reader's digest were on to something after all....more

Rock solid five stars for this one. Sent to investigate corrupt dealings - by Queen Catherine Parr, ) hunchback lawyer Matthew Sheldrake is faced with murder, high level political deceit, the imminent invasion by the French, old debts that have to be settled and getting to the bottom of why a friend is confined to the Bedlum asylum. Rich in the history of these turbulent times this is a masterful read and one of the best historical crime novels you could read. Top, top class.

658 pages long but I have read this one in just over a week - it is hard to put down! I thought in March, when I finished Revelation that it should have been called Resolution in that it tied all the loose ends up neatly and took Shardlake from the dissolution of the monasteries and the beginnings of the break from Rome and the establishment of the church of England, through to Catherine Parr becoming Henry's 6th Queen, and Shardlake and Barak settling down and attempting to keep out of politics658 pages long but I have read this one in just over a week - it is hard to put down! I thought in March, when I finished Revelation that it should have been called Resolution in that it tied all the loose ends up neatly and took Shardlake from the dissolution of the monasteries and the beginnings of the break from Rome and the establishment of the church of England, through to Catherine Parr becoming Henry's 6th Queen, and Shardlake and Barak settling down and attempting to keep out of politics.Certainly the boxed set includes "the four books of the Shardlake series" and the focus of this latest addition to the Shardlake stories has a focus which although steeped in the political intrigues and court goings-on of the time is also far more illustrative of everyday life for the majority of the underprivileged population of the British Isles at the time. Much of the action takes place outside London in Hampshire, Sussex and in Portsmouth and its surrounds, including the Solent. There is a wealth of interesting detail about the Mary Rose and other ships of the fleet assembled to repulse the French invasions forces, but throughout the strands of the two separate investigations Matthew Shardlake is undertaking drive the narrative forward. I always appreciate short chapters which give natural reading breaks but here they become irrelevant when I just felt I had to read the next bit, and then the next.. and the next... If there were not so many other necessary calls on my time I would have read it all at one sitting. But as Henry's death follows shortly after the events of this book, I fear it may really be the last Shardlake story. That is the downside of a fast read! ...more

This book has taken me a while to finish but it was so worth it. This is the best book in the series by far. There were so many strands to this story that it was in danger of falling completely flat but I should have had more faith in C.J who is a master at intertwining everything together.

I found myself doubting Matthew 3/4 of the wait through thinking this time hebhad gone too far and was seeing issues that weren't there, forgive me Matthew I was wrong. The climax was amazing, it lasted for tThis book has taken me a while to finish but it was so worth it. This is the best book in the series by far. There were so many strands to this story that it was in danger of falling completely flat but I should have had more faith in C.J who is a master at intertwining everything together.

I found myself doubting Matthew 3/4 of the wait through thinking this time hebhad gone too far and was seeing issues that weren't there, forgive me Matthew I was wrong. The climax was amazing, it lasted for the last quarter of the book and shocked me, made me laugh and cry at the loss of some incredible and brave characters. I'm at a loss what to do with myself now, a sign of an incredibly good book!...more

Wonderful historical mystery from an era that I have read little about. You don't need to have read the previous books of the series to enjoy this, since they are mostly stand-alone, though obviously small spoilers abound as you find in any series. I usually stay away from first-person narrative but this was written in such a way it did not put me off. It was often slow, but very sparingly and was, for the most, very quick-paced , full of intrigue and suspension. The characters were well-roundedWonderful historical mystery from an era that I have read little about. You don't need to have read the previous books of the series to enjoy this, since they are mostly stand-alone, though obviously small spoilers abound as you find in any series. I usually stay away from first-person narrative but this was written in such a way it did not put me off. It was often slow, but very sparingly and was, for the most, very quick-paced , full of intrigue and suspension. The characters were well-rounded though at times there were little things that made them feel obvious, but again that was very rare, and the world-building felt a little small at times. On the whole such a cracking read I cannot wait to get the rest in this series.

4.5★sI am a big fan of C.J. Sansom's series featuring the lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Set during the reign of Henry VIII, the novels focus on various crimes, which the intrepid Shardlake investigates while dealing with the prevailing situation of London and England under Henry's increasingly erratic reign. Sansom is both a qualified lawyer and a PhD in English History, so he is able to insert credible elements from both aspects of his professional life into the narratives. A key feature of his wri4.5★sI am a big fan of C.J. Sansom's series featuring the lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Set during the reign of Henry VIII, the novels focus on various crimes, which the intrepid Shardlake investigates while dealing with the prevailing situation of London and England under Henry's increasingly erratic reign. Sansom is both a qualified lawyer and a PhD in English History, so he is able to insert credible elements from both aspects of his professional life into the narratives. A key feature of his writing is his talent for invoking the sights, sounds and smells of the era, making the reader feel like they are really there, in the stinking hovels, traversing the filthy streets, engaging with the drunken deadbeats, sleazy solicitors and leary louts of the heaving city of 1540s London.

In Heartstone, the fifth instalment in the series, Shardlake's attentions are drawn to the plight of two orphan children whose inheritance seems to be disappearing at the hands of a greedy guardian, and a mature woman suffering agoraphobia which prevents her from leaving the asylum where she has dwelt for nineteen years. Seemingly unrelated, both cases take Shardlake and his loyal retainer, Jack Barak, to the south in the Portsmouth district. That town is abuzz with threats of invasion by the French, and the military build-up has begun, with the conscription of men and the gathering of equipment and supplies. As with all wars, greedy profiteers are doing their utmost to maximise their personal profits, at the expense of the ordinary people.

Shardlake is a fascinating character, whose traits have been defined and elaborated throughout the series of novels. Born with a spinal curvature, he is routinely abused by citizens as ugly, deformed, a product of the Devil...his self-esteem gets battered a lot. He compensates by taking on cases of injustice, fighting for the rights of ordinary folk who find themselves at the mercy of the self-serving, rapacious manipulators who enjoy King Henry's favour. His efforts often take him into dangerous situations and he has suffered violence and degradation in pursuit of his goals.

In Heartstone his supporters and assistants think he is going too far in his quest for answers. His interest in Ellen Fettiplace, 35yo resident of The Bedlam asylum, is complicated by her romantic attraction to him, and he feels guilty that he cannot reciprocate. To expiate for his lack of affection, Shardlake is determined to find out why Ellen has been institutionalised for 19 years without being certified. Those around him suggest that he let her be, as she is happy there, working with other inmates, and determined never to leave despite being free to. The answers lie in a Sussex village where Ellen lived before she arrived in London.

A half day's horse ride west, across the border in Hampshire, Shardlake seeks answers to his second pressing problem. Following the suicide of her only son, Mistress Bess Calfhill seeks assistance from her former employer, Queen Catherine Parr, to uncover a possible injustice to the Curteys children, her son's pupils. Knowing Shardlake's determination to obtain justice for the unfortunate, Catherine engages him to travel to Hoyland, the home of the childrens' guardians, Master Nicholas Hobbey and his wife, Abigail. Prior to his sudden death the tutor had filed a request for the courts to investigate financial fraud and "monstrous wrongs having been done" to the boy Hugh, his sister Emma having died of smallpox a few years earlier. The alleged monstrous wrongs are not specified, and the Hobbeys deny strongly any misdeeds.

These two investigations are set against the background of Tudor England preparing for war against the French. Shardlake's faithful law clerk, the redoubtable Jack Barak, falls foul of an army recruiter, and is in danger of being pressed into military service. He is particularly anxious about this as his wife is heavily pregnant. He is glad to be leaving London for a while, to escape the clutches of the recruiter. Huge consignments of men, arms and supplies are choking the roads leading to Portsmouth, where the English fleet is assembling. The reader is immersed in the dust and odours and petty dramas that unfold along the highway, thanks to Sansom's vivid descriptions.

Hugh Curteys stands to inherit a valuable tract of Hampshire woodland when he turns 21, and this estate is being managed by his ward, Nicholas Hobbey, supposedly to benefit the boy. With war imminent, the demand for firewood and ship building timbers has risen and top prices are being paid, but it seems that Hobbey may be misappropriating some of the profits. His denials are supported by his sharp-tongued lawyer, Vincent Dyrick and his officious steward, Ambrose Fulstowe. Sansom is as skilled with his characterisations as he is with his scenic descriptions, and the people who inhabit the pages are authentic personalities whose voices contribute much to the tone of the novel.

Shardlake and Barak embark on their road journey south and experience all sorts of indignities and challenges along the way. Shardlake is resolute in his determination to uncover the mysteries of what happened to Ellen and to the Curteys children. He faces major obstacles from those with vested interests in concealing the truth. His detective instincts take him all the way to Portsmouth, where he becomes enmeshed in the mighty efforts to do battle against the enemy. He sees at first hand the English flotilla of warships, including the King's favourite vessel, the Mary Rose.

A long way into the book we finally get our first murder. In previous instalments of the series, suspicious deaths come early in the story and the body count can rise dramatically as Shardlake probes dark secrets. Heartstone differs markedly, being more of a mystery-solving plot, with incidents having happened in the distant past. Shardlake must piece together a coherent account of what happened years earlier from fragmentary evidence and hearsay. He frustrates his colleagues intensely by continuing to dig, to not accept the facile testimony of untrustworthy witnesses. He and Barak argue a lot, and their long relationship is put under strain. Most importantly Barak asks Shardlake to take a hard look at what he is doing and what underlies his obstinacy. There is no doubt that he has a messiah complex, and he holds true to his goals to deliver truth and equity for both victims of the crimes he is investigating. This determination takes him right into the midst of war, with a lengthy segment on the Battle of The Solent of 1545.

Thanks to his effortless prose, Sansom paints a vivid picture of the times. At 630 pages, this is a hefty volume, but I did not find it a chore to read. The words flowed off the page, and I became immersed in the story for most of the length of the book. I must say that there were a few sections where I thought the detail became a bit excessive, and I had a tendency to skim those paragraphs. Although I greatly enjoyed this novel, I found it a little too wordy, lacking the sharpness of some of the earlier instalments. Normally I am happy to award Sansom's writing five stars, but on this occasion I'm deducting a half star for this minor fault....more

I have escaped once more into the world of Tudor England. Sansom brings to life the atmosphere of these times with wonderful ease. He captures the history and weaves in adventure, great characters and mystery.

Shardlake is a lawyer with a conscience. He is a busy man who tackles cases aided by his engaging and loyal assistant, Barak. He has connections in the royal court which lead to a case with royal personal interest and direct instructions are given to Shardlake to pursue all leads.

PreparatioI have escaped once more into the world of Tudor England. Sansom brings to life the atmosphere of these times with wonderful ease. He captures the history and weaves in adventure, great characters and mystery.

Shardlake is a lawyer with a conscience. He is a busy man who tackles cases aided by his engaging and loyal assistant, Barak. He has connections in the royal court which lead to a case with royal personal interest and direct instructions are given to Shardlake to pursue all leads.

Preparations for war are in progress and an attack from the French at Portsmouth is expected. Shardlake and Barak are caught up in this turmoil as they travel south for information.

This is the fifth novel in the wonderful Tudor series. It is an engrossing, tangled web of intrigue....more

took me awhile to read the one book I had been missing in the shardlake series as its based mainly in hampshire with the war with France and the Mary Rose and didn't disappoint at all. this book was really 2 subplots linked together.

The year in 1545, and England is poised at the brink of war with France, and a huge French fleet is massing ready to sail across the channel.

Shardlake is summoned to Queen Catherine Parr, where she asks him to take on a case by a servant of hers. It is intriguing, and he readily accepts. It is claimed that 'monstrous wrongs' have been committed against a ward of court, Hugh Curteys, by the up and coming Sir Nicholas Hobbey. Shardlake and Barak travel from London to Hampshire to investigate, butThe year in 1545, and England is poised at the brink of war with France, and a huge French fleet is massing ready to sail across the channel.

Shardlake is summoned to Queen Catherine Parr, where she asks him to take on a case by a servant of hers. It is intriguing, and he readily accepts. It is claimed that 'monstrous wrongs' have been committed against a ward of court, Hugh Curteys, by the up and coming Sir Nicholas Hobbey. Shardlake and Barak travel from London to Hampshire to investigate, but are accompanied by Hobbey's legal team who are seeking to ensure that Shardlake discovers that all is in order.

Ellen Fettiplace, a resident of Bedlam, has been becoming more friendly to Shardlake, but he is intrigued by how she came to be in Bedlam. He decides that he will seek the answer to these questions whist he is in Hampshire, as she lived a little way from where he is lodging.

As the preparation for war mount, Shardlake and Barak's investigations start to reveal that all is not as it seems in the Hobbey's manor. As he investigates the events that led to Emma being incarcerated, and comes across a link to an old enemy who holds a position of power now, suddenly his life is threatened.

Sansom has managed to weave a fine pair of mysteries around the events leading up to the battle with the French fleet and the tragic loss of the Mary Rose. He has included characters from the earlier books, with the despicable Sir Richard Rich appearing once again. The two investigations that he he following lead to a very tense and dramatic ending. I like the way that he uses know historical events as the backdrop to these stories, and manages to convey how some of the people lived in these times. Well worth reading

Thought that that was it for the series, but he has just released the next!...more

I am probably very much in the minority but I found the fifth Shardlake novel heavy-going. This is a long book - I mean long: over 700 pages - and it feels like it. There can be no doubting the research that has gone into it. Historical details are accurate and plentiful - too plentiful in my view. I think that there is far too much background detail not relevant to the story, and that the novel could have been edited down by at least a third. The opening sections are particularly slow-paced. II am probably very much in the minority but I found the fifth Shardlake novel heavy-going. This is a long book - I mean long: over 700 pages - and it feels like it. There can be no doubting the research that has gone into it. Historical details are accurate and plentiful - too plentiful in my view. I think that there is far too much background detail not relevant to the story, and that the novel could have been edited down by at least a third. The opening sections are particularly slow-paced. I also found the plot devices were often unconvincing and repetitive in character. In the last 200 to 300 pages time and again people caught up in a national crisis - a threatened French invasion - make time to tell all to Shardlake when in real life they would have put him off (or put him out of the way). There is a specially unconvincing moment when the French are offshore and a top politician making key decisions turns aside from those not only to talk to Shardlake at length but also to change the deployment of an army unit as a result of circumstances of which it seems improbable he was aware. Much earlier Shardlake is subject to a street attack which, near the end of the novel, is said to have been for a reason which would not really have been valid at the time of the attack: the incident is crucial to the plot, but the basis on which it is finally explained is very questionable. Shardlake himself keeps stupidly and pig-headedly putting himself into situations of unnecessary and avoidable risk, and rushing into upsetting powerful people without thinking through how to approach them - I was as irritated by this as his sidekick Barak is in the novel. If Shardlake were as bright as he needs to be to unravel the mysteries, he would have more sense. All in all, while admiring the historical accuracy, I am afraid I found this novel laboured and disappointing....more

I was so irritated by Matthew and his bulldog attitude in helping people who neither asked or wanted his help that I wanted to slap him. That's how invested I am in this series. He was real enough to me that I thought I could have impact on his decisions.I stumbled onto this series after I heard Craig Ferguson talking about the author and I am so grateful. Each book gets better that the last. I feel like Matthew, Barak and Guy are old friends now and I can't wait to see what they are up to next.I was so irritated by Matthew and his bulldog attitude in helping people who neither asked or wanted his help that I wanted to slap him. That's how invested I am in this series. He was real enough to me that I thought I could have impact on his decisions.I stumbled onto this series after I heard Craig Ferguson talking about the author and I am so grateful. Each book gets better that the last. I feel like Matthew, Barak and Guy are old friends now and I can't wait to see what they are up to next.In this book, Matthew kept sticking his nose into things that nobody asked him to because he thought it was for the best. I'm not sure he really helped anyone and his actions led to horrible outcomes to those around him. I was irritated but it was realistic and I hope he learned something from it.I put off reading this book for awhile because it is the last one published. I didn't have another one on hand and am now forced to wait for the author. I can't wait.Do yourseld a big favor and read this series....more

Somehow slightly less impressive than the former books in the series, but still very worthwhile. I am impressed by how Mr. Sansom keeps making history come to life, but I think the book could have fewer pages. The part in the middle was a little too long for my taste. Still, a book which I can definitely recommend.

This was terrific. Not my favourite adventure with Matthew Shardlake and Jack Barak, but still very enjoyable. In this one our main characters again find themselves on what at first seems a simple case. What complicates matters is who has requested they take the case, Queen Catherine Parr. As usual things aren’t what they seem and as events unravel, years worth of lies and deception come to light. We learn some truths about some of Shardlake’s enemies, and friends as well.

I loved the Ellen storThis was terrific. Not my favourite adventure with Matthew Shardlake and Jack Barak, but still very enjoyable. In this one our main characters again find themselves on what at first seems a simple case. What complicates matters is who has requested they take the case, Queen Catherine Parr. As usual things aren’t what they seem and as events unravel, years worth of lies and deception come to light. We learn some truths about some of Shardlake’s enemies, and friends as well.

I loved the Ellen storyline. I was really curious as to what happened to her 19 years before Shardlake meet her in the Bedlam. Some shocking revelations come out of that investigation! Emotions run very high in this one. Jack gets himself into quite a pickle at the start and has to accompany Shardlake on his case near Portsmouth. Even though he would much rather be at home. It’s been nice to see such a change in Shardlake too. He is getting older and acts more emotionally than he used to. At this point he has been through so much, his temper is so short these days and he doesn’t think quite so deeply before acting. This lands him in more than his fair share of bother in this book. I also love how short he is with people in this. Almost as blunt as me! He’s also more humorous in this one and had me cracking up on more than one occasion.

The historical aspect was phenomenal. You really feel like you are there in the times. Sansom always brings Tudor England to life with his words, and you feel the terrors of the age as much as the characters do themselves. In the previous books, religion has been the main focus of the people. With fears about being branded a heretic or being found guilty of treason tormented most folk. Everyone keeping a watchful eye on who the reformers are and who sticks to the old religion. However in this book religion takes a back seat. The major threat that the people of England face at this point is the threat of France. Henry is rallying all able men to train and prepare for war. As spy’s information say the French will be in Portsmouth any day. This book also deals with the sinking of the Mary Rose in such a cool way which I won’t spoil. It just shows Samson’s talents when he mixes actual events with his fictional characters and plots.

As per the previous instalments, I both listened to the audiobook and read parts of the paperback. In fact I probably listened to more of the audiobook than read the paperback this time around. Steven Crossley narrated this one like the previous ones and his performs was just as good. I really like the way he portrays the characters, Shardlake and Barak especially. His female voices can be cringey at times but that’s easily looked past. I normally listened to the audiobook before going to bed and Steven’s narration often put me to sleep. I don’t say this as a negative point at all, it just shows how easy it is to listen too. I’m glad I always use the sleep timer on the Audible app as I would have lost my place many times!

Again, I’m very much looking forward the next instalment. Lamentation is the last Shardlake book that is currently released and I’m not certain as to whether it’s the final book or of more are coming out at some point in the future. I hope there will be more as I love this world. ...more

The fifth Matthew Shardlake novel sees England in turmoil because of the threat of invasion by France. On a personal level Shardlake has lost his beloved housekeeper Joan and a mistrust of foreigners has seen Guy taking refuge in Matthew’s house. Joan has been replaced by a new steward, who Shardlake seems to dislike so much it is not really apparent how he got the job, although they do sympathise with his downtrodden daughter.

While England prepares for invasion, Barak and Tamasin are nervouslyThe fifth Matthew Shardlake novel sees England in turmoil because of the threat of invasion by France. On a personal level Shardlake has lost his beloved housekeeper Joan and a mistrust of foreigners has seen Guy taking refuge in Matthew’s house. Joan has been replaced by a new steward, who Shardlake seems to dislike so much it is not really apparent how he got the job, although they do sympathise with his downtrodden daughter.

While England prepares for invasion, Barak and Tamasin are nervously awaiting the birth of their child. However, young men are being called to fight and when Barak manages to upset someone in charge (a recurring theme…) he finds that he could be enlisted. Fate intervenes with Queen Catherine Parr, who requests Shardlake’s help with a case concerning her old housekeeper. The housekeeper’s son, Michael Calfhill, was tutor to two children whose parents died. The daughter, Emma,later died, but the son Hugh found himself in the care of the Hobbey family who bought the wardship. The Court of Wards are corrupt and the tutor was concerned enough to visit Hugh and discovered something that disturbed him so seriously that he lodged an application with the Court before apparently committing suicide. Now Shardlake must cross a country preparing for war to visit the Hobbey family and the only way Barak can avoid fighting is by accompanying him. As well as the main story, Shardlake is intrigued to find out the truth about Ellen Fettisplace, who we met in the preceding novel and who is in the Bedlam.

This is a long and involved novel, but as with all the Shardlake books, it is a joy to read. We travel across country and the story sees the climax in Portsmouth and the sinking of the Mary Rose. Shardlake always wants to do the right thing and, as always, this brings him into danger. Along with lawyer Dyrick and his assistant Feaveryear, who make difficult travelling companions for Shardlake and Barak, there is the sinister Sir Richard Rich, who always seems to dog Shardlake’s steps. Plots, murder and war abound in a novel filled with rich characters and interweaved storylines. This is a fantastic historical series and a joy to read....more

Master Shardlake, now a sarjeant, continues his fight against injustice championing the small farmers being pushed out of their land and livelihoods by landlords in search of higher profits, and the villagers being denied access to the commons. But life is getting monotonous for the lawyer, with no new challenge to face. Shardlake is widely known both for his soft heart, and his terrier like tenacity. Once he gets his teeth into a case, he never lets go till it is solved to his satisfaction. HisMaster Shardlake, now a sarjeant, continues his fight against injustice championing the small farmers being pushed out of their land and livelihoods by landlords in search of higher profits, and the villagers being denied access to the commons. But life is getting monotonous for the lawyer, with no new challenge to face. Shardlake is widely known both for his soft heart, and his terrier like tenacity. Once he gets his teeth into a case, he never lets go till it is solved to his satisfaction. His assistant Barak, now a married man, is worried because their second child is due, the first being sadly lost at birth. On the home front, the death of his long term housekeeper Joan, has upset his comfortable existence, with the new steward not to his liking. His old friend and apothecary Guy has moved in with him after a murderous attack on his life and property. Hatred against foreigners is flaring as England stands on the brink of a war with France. News of French warships moving closer and closer, breaks every day. The King’s warships are assembled at Portsmouth. All able-bodied men are being recruited as soldiers or sailors, even if they have never seen the ocean. While Shardlake is exempt from requisition because of his deformity and his age, Barak faces the very real danger of being forcefully inducted, when his wife needs him. Another long standing problem nags at Master Shardlake. Two years ago he met Ellen Fettiplace, who has been incarcerated in Bedlam for nineteen long years. Sporadic visits to Mistress Ellen have turned regular as she has developed feelings for him, and become more demanding on his time. Attempts to help her improve her mental status fail as Ellen has highly developed agoraphobia. Then comes a summons from the Queen. Queen Catherine Parr, a client of Shardlake when she was Lady Latimer, needs his help in a case filed by her old housekeeper, Mistress Calfhill. The case involves the wardship of two orphaned children, Hugh and Emma Curteys. Mistress Calfhill’s son Michael, their tutor was very fond of them, and continued in his post, after the children became wards of Master Hobbey, till an outbreak of smallpox killed Emma and disfigured Hugh. Michael was dismissed when the family moved down to their jointly owned estate of Hoyland in Hampshire, near Portsmouth. When Michael tried to meet Hugh, he was threatened. Suspecting that something was seriously wrong, he filed a case in the Court of Wards, but without specifying the cause. Before the case could be heard, Michael was found hanging in his room. His mother refused to believe that it was a suicide, and also wished to safeguard Hugh Curteys for the sake of her son. Accepting this strange case with no evidence, except Michael’s vague suspicions, Shardlake sets out on yet another adventure in war torn England, travelling on horseback through country roads clogged with contingents of soldiers and slow moving, heavily laden carts of supplies. As Ellen Fettiplace belonged to the neighbouring town of Rolfswood, he decides to use the opportunity to enquire into the circumstances surrounding her mysterious incarceration in Bedlam. While everything appears normal on the surface, Shardlake is soon sucked in by the undercurrents, which link the key players in both cases. Each time, the case seems over, something new crops up, and Shardlake is swept into the heart of the war, facing actual warfare on the warship “Mary Rose”. Finally all the threads are woven together into one complex whole. Another enthralling read. This one, all of 626 ‘un-put-down-able’ pages....more

Lawyer Matthew Shardlake has been summoned to Queen Catherine Parr, last wife on Henry VIII. A former servant of hers has asked for help investigating claims by her son that his former student, Hugh Curtey, has been mistreated by Hugh’s guardian, Sir Nicholas Hobbey. Traveling to Portsmouth with his assistant, Barak, allows Matthew to also investigate the past of Ellen Fettiplace, a young woman committed to Bedlam, but by whom?

SFirst Sentence: The churchyard was peaceful in the summer afternoon.

Lawyer Matthew Shardlake has been summoned to Queen Catherine Parr, last wife on Henry VIII. A former servant of hers has asked for help investigating claims by her son that his former student, Hugh Curtey, has been mistreated by Hugh’s guardian, Sir Nicholas Hobbey. Traveling to Portsmouth with his assistant, Barak, allows Matthew to also investigate the past of Ellen Fettiplace, a young woman committed to Bedlam, but by whom?

Sansome has gifted his readers with yet another wonderful book filled with historical details. The themes of politics, greed, poverty, conscription, injustice to the less powerful and the cost of war caused by those in power on those who have no choice but must live with the consequences have been repeated through time but here are set in the middle 1500s.

One of my pleasures in reading historical mysteries is to learn. The Council of Wards was something with which I was not familiar. Most particularly, however, was learning that, but for the stubborn conviction of one woman, England might never have split from Rome.

I also wish to applaud the UK publisher, Mantle, for a physically beautiful book, from the dust cover and embossed Tudor rose on the hard cover, to the inclusion of color maps, a sewn-in bookmark and, as always, the author notes at the end. In this day of ebooks, such details are greatly appreciated.

I very much enjoy Sansom’s, and thus his character’s, voice. It has a very conversational tone which immediately drew me into the story, along with the lack of prologue. His characters are somewhat atypical in that Matthew is by no means heroic. He is an interesting, appealing character who can be stubborn, intrusive and somewhat naïve in his trust of others. Yet he is also caring and determined in his pursuit of justice. In other words, he is human and fallible. As balance, you have his assistant, Barak, how married and about to be a father. It is nice to see how both characters, individually and in relationship to one another, have grown and developed through the series.

The plot is interesting and well done, but does get bogged down at times. There is so much history; the story itself becomes a bit lost, although certainly never to a point where I was tempted to stop reading. I was torn between feeling it would have been a much tighter, more compelling story had it been trimmed down, yet knowing I’d have learned and understood much less about the world in which the characters lived.

Sansom has taken several story lines and woven them together into a fascinating, very good whole. As ever, I am eagerly looking forward to his next book.

As a writer it is always difficult and risky giving a review about a novel in your chosen era and genre of writing, for one if it is disparaging it can be seen as either sour grapes at a successful author or an effort to climb up on the success of another by tearing them down. Either interpretation loses you potential readers and can make you look petty. Hopefully this review of CJ Sansom’s Heartstone avoids those treacherous shoals.Firstly as you are no doubt aware this is the latest instalmentAs a writer it is always difficult and risky giving a review about a novel in your chosen era and genre of writing, for one if it is disparaging it can be seen as either sour grapes at a successful author or an effort to climb up on the success of another by tearing them down. Either interpretation loses you potential readers and can make you look petty. Hopefully this review of CJ Sansom’s Heartstone avoids those treacherous shoals.Firstly as you are no doubt aware this is the latest instalment in Sansom’s very successful Shardlake series this time set in the year 1544 where England teeters on the brink of French invasion. Under the leadership of an aging King Henry and his divided Privy Council the people of the kingdom rally to its defence, sometimes willing, or resigned but more often reluctant and grudging. In the midst of this Shardlake is asked by his patron Queen Katherine to act on a matter on behalf of one of her old servants in the Court of Wards. As per usual Shadlake reluctantly accepts and while on that commission takes the opportunity to investigate the strange circumstance of Ellen Fettiplace a character he developed some sympathy and affection for in the previous story Revelation. Here endth the précis, on to the meat of the review, Sansom has spent a lot of time and effort building up the character and setting of Shardlake and on the whole it has been good quality work, particularly in Sovereign and Revelation. However in this mammoth book it falls down. The twin plots of the novel do not in my opinion work very well together, in fact they seem to diverge far too frequently with too many tenuous and dubious connections. I suspect that each one on its own would merit a very fine separate novel and been more engaging as a story. As for its inclusion in the 1544 campaign, both plot lines hint at deep importance to the defence of the realm which they were, but the leads go nowhere. Then we come to the use of the principal villain Sir..., whom makes fleeting appearance through out the book only to really emerge in the concluding chapters with a sudden full confession. Oh dear, I found that terribly disappointing and so carboardy cut out and ridiculous that it essentially ruined what pleasure I’d gain in the story. I think for this Sansom’s obvious talents have been squandered by the editor’s poor advice. I’m still after a fashion looking forward to the next instalment of Shardlake but I do hope it is more like Sansom’s previous excellence. Regards Greg...more

Heartstone is the 5th book in C.J. Sansom historical mystery series featuring lawyer, Matthew Shardlake. There are many branches to this story and it keeps Matthew and his capable assistant Jack Barak very busy. It makes for a long, wandering story but there was no time when it didn't hold my interest and wondering what would happen next.Matthew is recovering from his depression of the death of his long-time house keeper, Joan. He is dealing with a number of cases and also with a young woman he'Heartstone is the 5th book in C.J. Sansom historical mystery series featuring lawyer, Matthew Shardlake. There are many branches to this story and it keeps Matthew and his capable assistant Jack Barak very busy. It makes for a long, wandering story but there was no time when it didn't hold my interest and wondering what would happen next.Matthew is recovering from his depression of the death of his long-time house keeper, Joan. He is dealing with a number of cases and also with a young woman he'd met in a previous story, Ellen, who resides in Bedlam, an insane institution. He is struggling to help her and at the same time to find a way of dissuading her from her love for him. Matthew is asked by King Henry VIII's wife, Lady Catherine Parr to help her with a situation. This means Matthew will have to go to Portsmouth to check on a young man, Hugh Curteys, who may be being misused by his Ward, Mr. Hobbey. Matthew feels this might help him find out more about Ellen's past as she lived in a nearby town. What else?? Well, Matthew is suspicious of his new steward, an old soldier Mr Coldiron, and the young lady he calls his daughter, Josephine. And, of course, there is the threat of an invasion from France while Matthew is in Portsmouth. Troops are being drafted and sent to Portsmouth. Jack Barak is threatened with being drafted as well while his wife, Tamasin, is near giving birth. There are many old and new enemies for Matthew to deal with, Sir Richard Rich and Lawyer Dyrick. Whew! Is that enough for you?Well, the story is involved, with many, many twists and turns and threats to both Matthew and Jack. It's a fascinating and interesting follow-on to the other books in the series. Don't be intimidated by the size, there are no wasted pages and the story is rich, historical and detailed. It's one of the more entertaining series I've read and enjoyed. (4 stars)...more

I really struggled with the idea of finishing this book. There's no more Matthew Shardlake until some time in 2015. Ugh. I really didn't want to finish but I had to finish. Worst problem ever.

This was far and above the best Shardlake novel (so far). I can only hope some of the characters introduced in this novel reappear again especially (view spoiler)[ Emma/Hugh (hide spoiler)]. I really enjoyed the way Sansom took events from early in Henry VIII's reign and related them to current events of HI really struggled with the idea of finishing this book. There's no more Matthew Shardlake until some time in 2015. Ugh. I really didn't want to finish but I had to finish. Worst problem ever.

This was far and above the best Shardlake novel (so far). I can only hope some of the characters introduced in this novel reappear again especially (view spoiler)[ Emma/Hugh (hide spoiler)]. I really enjoyed the way Sansom took events from early in Henry VIII's reign and related them to current events of Henry VIII's reign. I could say a lot on the subject of Henry VIII's reign and some of the events that occurred during the time but I don't get that many characters. I don't really want to say too much more about the book for fear I might give away major plot details. I just want people to know this book was excellent. I had a hard time with Dissolution, so much so that I didn't think I would finish it much less continue on with the series. I did finish Dissolution. It was by far the best average rated book I have ever read simply because it lead me to the other Shardlake novels (that almost made sense right?)....more

It's the summer of 1545, and England is at war. An invasion by the French is imminent when Queen Catherine Parr summons Matthew to her, asking him to look into a case for an old servant of hers. Despite the danger, Matthew agrees to travel to Portsmouth, where the French are expected to land any day, to find whether there's any truth to allegations made about some unspecified evil being done to a boy by the family who took him in as a ward years ago. In addition, the journey also affords MatthewIt's the summer of 1545, and England is at war. An invasion by the French is imminent when Queen Catherine Parr summons Matthew to her, asking him to look into a case for an old servant of hers. Despite the danger, Matthew agrees to travel to Portsmouth, where the French are expected to land any day, to find whether there's any truth to allegations made about some unspecified evil being done to a boy by the family who took him in as a ward years ago. In addition, the journey also affords Matthew the opportunity to investigate what really happened to Ellen Fettiplace, the woman in Bedlam he has been visiting for some time and who refuses to speak about the events that put her there.

While the rich historical atmosphere is compelling as ever and the two mysteries the plot revolves around are quite intriguing as such, this is the first Shardlake novel that doesn't get a full five stars from me. The story just seemed to drag somewhat in places and the pace was a little too slow for my liking before it finally picked up in the last quarter of the book. Nevertheless a very good read....more

What a shame that the series ended like this. The previous book, Revelation, was the best in the series in my opinion and took the series to a new level and added even more depth to the already complex characters.

This time the story was good but that isn't enough now for this series anymore. The standards set by the previous books mean anything below amazing stands out.

I liked the descriptions of the impending war and the invasion of the French as a constant backdrop but the main plot thre7/10

What a shame that the series ended like this. The previous book, Revelation, was the best in the series in my opinion and took the series to a new level and added even more depth to the already complex characters.

This time the story was good but that isn't enough now for this series anymore. The standards set by the previous books mean anything below amazing stands out.

I liked the descriptions of the impending war and the invasion of the French as a constant backdrop but the main plot thread didn't grab me and it felt like it was treading old ground. The page count is also at an all time high too and I personally think it could have been shorter.

As mentioned, whilst it was good it didn't stand out. The series as a whole though is very good and the descriptions of the times are amazing. I highly recommend this series to anyone interested in the time period....more

Christopher John "C.J." Sansom is an English writer of crime novels. He was born in 1952 and was educated at the University of Birmingham, where he took a BA and then a PhD in history. After working in a variety of jobs, he decided to retrain as a solicitor. He practised for a while in Sussex as a lawyer for the disadvantaged, before quitting in order to work full-time as a writer.He came to promiChristopher John "C.J." Sansom is an English writer of crime novels. He was born in 1952 and was educated at the University of Birmingham, where he took a BA and then a PhD in history. After working in a variety of jobs, he decided to retrain as a solicitor. He practised for a while in Sussex as a lawyer for the disadvantaged, before quitting in order to work full-time as a writer.He came to prominence with his series set in the reign of Henry VIII in the 16th century, whose main character is the hunchbacked lawyer Matthew Shardlake. Shardlake works on commission initially from Thomas Cromwell in Dissolution and Dark Fire and then Thomas Cranmer in Sovereign and Revelation.

The BBC have commissioned an adaptation of Dissolution with the actor Kenneth Branagh set to star as Shardlake. The rest of the Shardlake books are expected to follow. C. J. Sansom has been consulted on the series, which is in the final stages of negotiation.[citation needed].

He has also written Winter in Madrid, a thriller set in Spain in 1940 in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War.

Dark Fire won the 2005 Ellis Peters Historical Dagger, awarded by the Crime Writers' Association (CWA). Sansom himself was "Very Highly Commended" in the 2007 CWA Dagger in the Library award, for the Shardlake series.

Other books in the series

“be needed.’ I looked at her. I sensed how much she wanted me to deal with this case. And if I could go via Rolfswood . . . ‘I will do it,’ I said. ‘Thank you.’ She smiled gratefully and turned to the ladies. ‘Jane, please fetch Mistress Calfhill.’ ‘Now,’ she said to me quietly, ‘Bess Calfhill, whom you are about to meet, was an old servant of mine when I was Lady Latimer. A housekeeper at one of our properties in the north and later in London. She is a good, true woman, but she has recently suffered a great loss. Deal with her gently. If anyone deserves justice, it is Bess.’ The maid-in-waiting returned, bringing with her the woman I had seen in the presence chamber. She was small, frail looking. She approached with nervous steps, her hands held tightly together. ‘Come, good Bess,’ the Queen said in a welcoming voice. ‘This is Master Shardlake, a serjeant at law. Jane, bring over a chair. One for Serjeant Shardlake too.’ Mistress Calfhill lowered herself onto”
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